Carton feeding and filling system



y 4, 1943- e. B. FIRST ETAL 2,318,208

' CARTON FEEDING AND FILLING SYSTEM Filed NOV. 16, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1INVE fans BY WW M QM ATTORNEY 4, 19 3- e. B. FIRST ETAL CARTON FEEDINGAND FILLING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 16, 1939 4 6 Sheets-Shet 2 g INVENTORS a,max av W ATTORNEY y 1943- e. 5. FIRST ETAL 2,318,208

CARTON FEEDING AND FILLING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 16, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEY 4, 1943- G. B. FIRST EI'AL I 2,318,208

CARTON FEEDING AND (FILLING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 16, 1939 6 Sheefs-Sheet 4N v ATI'ORN EY May 4, 1943. 5. B. FIRST ETAL CARTON FEEDING AND FILLINGSYSTEM Filed Nov. 16, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY y 1943- e. B. FIRSTETAL CARTQN FEEDING AND FILLING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 16, 1939 6Sheets-Sheet 6 v mv IORS MW ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CARTON FEEDING AND FILLING SYSTEM George B. First and HansGrotewold, Philadelphia, Pa., asslgnors to Stokes and Smith Company,Summerdale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 16,1939, Serial No. 304,678 13 Claims. (Cl. 93-6) Our invention relates tosystems for feeding and filling cartons.

In accordance with our invention, cartons are removed from. a stackthereof and delivered to a conveyor which transports them through afilling station with control of feed of cartons 'from the stack to theconveyor effected in dependence upon the amount of filling, in each ofthe successive cartons, lying between predeteritself of, or transport totheir proper destination, those cartons which have received sufilcientfilling.

Further in accordance with our invention, the

cartons, while flattened or collapsed, are in succession removed from astack thereof by a gripper, preferably of the suction type, which sopositions them that they are opened, in preparation for filling, bytheir engagement with abutments onthe conveyor; more particularly, thecartons are transferred to pockets or recesses provided on the conveyorby a member reciproeating lengthwise of the stack.

Further in accordance with our invention, upon removal of collapsedcartons from the forward end of the stack, the stack is advanced step bystep by mechanism comprising a one-way clutch having an oscillatingdriving member which for feed of the stack is free to follow themovements of a reciprocating actuator to which it is resilientlycoupled, preferably by an elastic fluid, and which driving member isprecluded from following aforesaid movements of the actuator by acontrol member engaged by the forward end of the stack upon arrival ofits forward end at a predetermined position.

Our invention further resides in the features of construction,combination, and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of our invention, reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1, in perspective, illustrates a system for closing and fillingcartons;

Fig. 2, in perspective, with parts omitted and with parts broken away,illustrates mechanism for removing cartons from a stack and openingthem; i

Fig. 3, in perspective, illustrates mechanism for transferring the opencartons to a conveyor;

Fig. 4, in perspective, with parts omitted and with parts broken away,illustrates stack-feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5, in perspective, illustrates a modification of thecarton-transfer mechanism;

Fig. 6, in perspective, with parts omitted and with parts broken away,shows an arrangement for checking the degree or sufiiciency, of fillingof the cartons;

Fig. 7, in perspec tive, with parts omitted and with parts broken away,illustrates ejector mechanism controlled by the apparatus shown in Fig.6.

Referring to Fig. 1 which exemplifies operations performed upon cartonsby a machine generally of the type disclosed in United States LettersPatent No. 1,527,050 to Delamere et al., the cartons C are, in turn,removed from the stack S by mechanism hereinafter more fully described,and delivered to an endless conveyor comprising a belt 2 (Figs. 6, 7)which passes about the drums 3, 25, Fig. 1, and from which extend blocksl forming a series of pockets or recesses for reception of the cartons.As each carton moves beyond the position of carton 20, Fig. 1, its bottom flaps CI and C2 are turned upwardly and inwardly, and its flaps C3,C4 are bent upwardly and outwardly so that, as the carton moves towardand beyond the position of carton 40, Fig. 1, adhesive is applied by theroller AB to the under face of the four fiaps.

A preferred arrangement for supplying adhesive to the roll AB, and alsoto roll AT which, as hereinafter described, applies adhesive to the topflaps C5-C8 of the cartons, is disclosed in our copending applicationSerial No. 302,806, filed November 4, 1939.

As each carton moves beyond the adhesiveapplying roll AB, the flap C3 isturned downwardly and then upwardly into adhesive engagement with flapsCl, C2 and finally the flap C4 is moved into overlying adhesiveengagement with panel C3.

Each of the cartons with its bottom thus closed then, in turn, passesthrough a filling station F for filling by mechanism preferably of thetype disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No.302,807, filed November 4, 1939. During passage of the cartons throughthe filling station, the open upper end of each carton is aligned with afilling snout 4 depending from the rotating plate at a predeterminedposition of each carton, a. gate 6 supported by plate 5 for movementbetween a filling snout 4 and its associated measuring flask I swingsoutwardly to allow a charge of filling material within the flask to fallinto the carton below it.

As each, carton moves beyond the filling station F, the quantity ofmaterial in each of them is checked by a device L, hereinafter morefully described, and if the filling in any carton is in error in amount,more particularly insuflicient, that carton, preferably at a subsequentposition, is ejected from the conveyor by ejector mechanism E,hereinafter more fully described. Preferably, the mechanism fordetecting error in quantity of material in the cartons also controls thefeeding of cartons from stack S, so that when the device L detectsimproper amount of filling of cartons, supply of additional cartons tothe conveyor 2 is interrupted.

Those cartons which are not ejected from the conveyor 2 continue to movetherewith toward the adhesive-applying roll AT which applies a coatingof adhesive to their top panels C5-C8 which, prior to arrival of eachcarton at roll AT, have been bent to the position shown, carton I6C.Thereafter, the flaps C1, C8 of each carton are folded over intoadhesive attachment with each other and flaps C5, C6 to form the closedtop of the carton.

The completed cartons are diverted from the conveyor belt 2 and turnedthrough an angle of substantially 90 for travel broadside with respectto each other (cartons 22C, 23C, etc.) between belts, not shown, whichapply pressure, for suitably long time, to the closed ends of thecartons during their travel to a discharge point. A preferredarrangement for turning the cartons and applying pressure to their endsduring setting of the adhesive on the flaps is disclosed and claimed inour aforesaid copending application Serial No. 302,806.

Referring to Fig. 2, the stack of flattened cartons is disposed upon asupport or plate 8 with the front end of the stack adjacent a regionwhere the conveyor belt 2 passes about the periphery of drum 25. Theknife 9 for entering each flattened carton is adjustably secured, as bynut III, to member II pivotally mounted at I2 to the upper end of thevertically reciprocable bar I3, or preferably, as indicated, to theadjustable extension I3A thereof. The spring I4 between the member IIand its support I3A biases the knife 9 against the front face of thestack yet permits it to yield when the suction gripper devicehereinafter described pulls the end carton of the stack toward theposition shown in Fig. 2. When the cartons are of the type shown, withflaps C5,

'C6 shorter than the flaps C1, C8, the knife 9;

for uppermost position of its reciprocating support I3, bears againstpanel C8 at that region thereof exposed above the shorter flap C6. Asthe knife 3 descends, it swings the side SI of the carton incounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and positivelyseparates the sides SI, S2, S3 notwithstanding any inadvertent bond due,for example, to adhesive which may have been, during manufacture of theflattened carton, squeezed out of the usual seam between the sides SI,$2. This preliminary opening of the carton, which may often be dispensedwith, insures opening of the cartons by the mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

The reciprocating bar I3 which supports the for connection, by link I6,to the lever I1 upon which is mounted the cam follower I8 continuouslyengaged by the periphery of the cam IS on shaft 20 continuously drivenfrom the drive shaft of conveyor belt 2 at such speed that cam l3 makesone revolution during advance of a carton by belt 2 through a distancecorresponding with a distance between the center lines of adjacentcartons.

The knife 9 and its support are thus positively moved upwardly; however,the downward movement of the knife is preferably effected by biasingmeans capable of yielding in event the knife 9 is jammed in its descent,as by improper positioning of the cartons in the stack; for example, ifthe front face of the stack becomes inclined, the obstruction offered bythe stack to the descending knife might seriously damage the mechanism.In the exemplary arrangement disclosed, the downward movement of theknife 9 is effected by spring 2I positioned between the guide 22extending upwardly from the base of the housing I5 and the adjustablestops or nuts 23 on rod 24 24 which extends through the guide 22 forconnection to one end of a chain 25 which passes about small sprocket 23and is attached thereto. The large sprocket 21, also attached to shaft28, is connected to one end of chain 29 which passes over an idlersprocket 30 for connection at 3| to the lower end of the reciprocablebar I3. Accordingly, the cam I9 in moving bar I3 upwardly effectscompression of spring 2| for storage of a limited amount of energy to beexpended in effecting downward movement of knife 9.

The cartons are in turn removed from stack S by suction-feed devices 32attached to the hollow shaft 33 for movement therewith as it isoscillated, in timed relation to conveyor 2, by the cam the link 38extending to the arm 39 attached to knife 3 extends downwardly into thehousing I5 76 aforesaid hollow shaft 33. The spring 40 connected to link38 biases the suction devices 32 toward engagement with the end cartonof the stack S. At its lower end the hollow shaft 33 is connected, as byhose H, to a suitable source of suction, such as a suction pump, andintermediate its ends shaft 33 is provided with a relief valve 42,biased to closed position by spring 43, and opened by engagement with astationary stop structure 44 when the suction devices 32 have removed acarton from the stack.

The opening of valve 42 occurs substantially concurrently with movementof the suction heads 32 in counterclockwise direction by or between themembers 45 which serve as stops engaging the removed carton positivelyto strip it from the suction heads. The leading face of each of theconveyor blocks I is serrated to catch or engage the corner or edge ofeach carton between its panels S2, S3 and so by its movement coacts withthe suction heads 32 to open the carton, for subsequent reception offilling, before or as it is transferred into the conveyor pocket.

Conveyor 2 is so timed that substantially concurrently with withdrawalof a carton by the suction feeders 32, a pocket or recess formed by apair of conveyor blocks I is in position to receive the carton. Transferof the open carton into this pocket or recess is effected by pushermechanism comprising the horizontally reciprocating bar 46 slidablyreceived by guides, not shown, at-

'pivotally connected to arm 6| tached to the housing IS. The bar 45 isconnected by link 41 to bell-crank lever 48 pivotally supported fromwall structure of housing l and connected by a link 49 to crank-pin 58extending from the face of gear 5| driven by gear 52 on the shaft 28.

For each rotation of shaft 28, bar 46 reciprocates to transfer a cartonwhich has been separated from the end of stack S into an empty pocket ofthe conveyor 2,

The feed of cartons from stack S may be in-' terrupted at any time,without interruption of operation of the other parts of the machine, byswinging a control handle 51 in clockwise direction from the positionshown in Fig. 2, to position a latch 58 in the path of shoulder 59 ofthe member 68 attached to shaft 33. The angular disposition of member 68on shaft 33 is such that the latch 58 will ride off shoulder 59 and fallbehind it when the suction devices 33 are sub-- stantially away from theend of the stack of cartons S; latch 58 therefore restrains the devices32 from movement by spring 38 toward the stack S. When latch 58 isreleased, as by return of handle 57 to the position shown in Fig. 2, thespring 48 is effective to reestablish normal operation of the suctionheads 32 by cam 34.

Preferably the mechanical connections between the control handle 51 andthe latch 58 comprise a toggle formed by the arm 6|, attached to theshaft 62 of latch member 58, and the arm 63 and slidable through the hub64 of the control lever 51. The spring 65 is compressed when the controlmember 51 is moved in either direction to swing the arms 6|, 63 overcenter to break the toggle; stops 66 and 6! limit movement of the latchmember 58 by spring 65 in both directions. When member 58 is inengagement with stop 66, it is substantially away from the member 68 anddoes not engage member 68, for any angular position thereof, untilhandle 51 has been moved sufficiently to break the toggle.

When it is desired to interrupt removal of cartons from stack S, thecontrol lever 51 may be operated at any time in a revolution of shaft28, yet the carton feed will not actually stop until there has beencompleted the removal and transfer of any carton whose removal from thestack has been initiated.

The control handle 51 may be operated at any time to resume feed of thecartons, but the resumption of feed will not actually begin until theconveyor 2, knife 9, and pusher bar 46, which have continued to operate,assume, with respect to suction heads 32, their proper positions fornormal operation.

The latch 58 is also subject to the control of an electromagnetic device68A whose armature or core member 68B is connected to the knee of thetoggle 6|, 63 by the link 68. As hereinafter. more fully described, thesolenoid 68A is energized, when a carton receives insufilcient'amount offilling material, to move the toggle arms 6|, 63 over center and so biasthe latch 58 for interruption of the carton feed, as above explained inconnection with manipulation of the manually operable control lever 51.

In Fig. 4, there is shown the mechanism for feeding the stack of cartonsto position for successive removal of the cartons by the suctiongrippers32. The rear carton of the stack is engaged by a plate 89 supported fromthe weighted member 18 resting upon and advanced by the chains ll.Preferably the engagement between the chains ii and member I8 is merelya frictional engagement afforded, for example, by a facing 12 ofsponge-rubber or equivalent material attached to the under face ofmember 18.

The sides of the stack are engaged by uide bars 13 to whose forward endsare attached, as

by bolts 14, the adjustable stops '5 whose ends' spring arm 18, clearsthe top flap Cl, because of a notch therein, and engages the flap C8.

The spring arm 18 is adjustably secured, as by screw 19, to a bracket 88which extends over the top of the stack and to which may be attached aspring member 8| for pressing against the top of the stack, particularlynear the front end thereof.

As the stack is depleted by the automatic removal of cartons from thefront end thereof, additional cartons are added to the rear of the stackby an operator who need simply lift off or slide back the member 18 andinsert additiona1 cartons between the plate 69 of member 18 and the rearface of the cartons already in place.

Feed of the stack S is effected by the intermittent actuation of thechains II which pass over the sprockets 83, 83 on shaft 84 to which isattached the driven member 85 of a' ratchet or one-way clutch mechanism;i. e., a clutch effective for rotating driven member 85 during only onedirection of rotation of the driving member 86, which driving member 86is attached to or formed with an arm 82 connected by link 81 to a piston88 slidable within a cylinder 89 attached to wall structure of housingl5. Piston 98, slidable within the cylinder 89, is connected by link 9|to arm 92 pivoted at 93 to the wall structure of the housing l5 andcarrying a camfollower received by cam track 95 of the cam 98 attachedto the continuously rotating shaft 28. As piston 98 is moved downwardly,the suction created within the cylinder 89 causes a follow-up movementof the piston 88. The resultant movement of the driving clutch member 86in clockwise direction is transmitted by the rollers 98 to the drivenclutch member 85.

Upon upward movement of piston 98, the air within the cylinder 89 iscompressed and piston 88 is raised, with consequent movement of theclutch member 86 in reverse direction. This reverse movement of member86 is not transmitted to the conveyor chains through the clutch rollers98 and driven clutch member 85. Excess pres sure within the cylinder 89is avoided by a simple relief valve comprising, for example, a lightspring member 99 biased by its own resiliency to close a port extendingthrough the piston '88.

Thus, for each revolution of shaft 28 the conveyor chains 1|, 1| advanceby a small amount or short step to advance the stack S.

The extent to which the conveyor chains are moved for each revolution ofshaft 28 can be controlled by adjustment of the stop I88 which engagesthe member l8! attached t and movable with the driving clutch member 86.The

position of stop I88 determines the lowermost position to which piston88 can be moved by suetion created in cylinder 89; in other words, stopI provides means for adjusting the stroke of piston 88, and thereforeadjustment of the increment of advance of chains 1I, notwithstandingconstancy of the length of stroke of piston 90.

Interruption of operation of the stack-feeding chains H is controlled bya pivoted latch I02 which can be swung to position its shoulder I03 inthe path of member IOI attached to the driving clutch member 86. Whenlatch member I02 is swung in clockwise direction from its position shownin Fig. 4, so to engage member IN, the

piston 90 reciprocates idly without effecting correspondingreciprocation of the piston 68. The latch I02 may be controlledautomatically in response to arrival of the front carton of the stack atthe desired position for its removal by the suction heads 32; forexample, in the particular arrangement disclosed, there is provided thefeeler I04 attached to shaft I05 and biased, as by a suitably lightspring I06, to engage the front of the stack. When the arm I04 byengagement by' the front end of the advancing stack is sufficientlymoved in opposition to spring I06, the

arm I01, attached to shaft I05, effects operation of a switch I08 toenergize solenoid I09 whose armature or core H0 is connected by link IIIto arm II2 attached to shaft II3 of aforesaid latch member I02; movementof armature H0 in response to energization of solenoid I09 posiu tlonslatch member I02 in the path of the extension IOI of the clutch member86 and so precludes further feed of the stack. The switch I08, thoughshown conventionally a of the pushbutton type, preferably is of knowntype requiring for'operation of its contacts only a very small force andan operating member moving through only a few thousandths of an inch.

When switch I08 is opened, the solenoid I09 is deenergized and spring II2A connected between I02 and armature IIO to their positions shown inFig. 4.

, In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the cartons, instead of beingdirectly transferred from the stack S to the conveyor 2, are deliveredby the carton-feeding mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to anintermediate conveyor member comprising a drum 25A having extendingtherefrom blocks IA providing recesses or pockets to receive the cartonswhich travel with the drum 25A until deflected therefrom by a stripperplate I I4 which coacts with the members II5 to form a gate throughwhich each carton in turn is forced to pass between the pressing rollsH6, H6 rotating transferred from conveyor 2 to another machine forfilling; when the cartons remain in conveyor 2 for the filling andclosing operations shown in Fig. 1, the simpler arrangement shown inFig. 3 is usually satisfactory for most kinds of cartons.

The device L, Fig. 6, for detecting whether or not the cartons havereceived proper amount of filling, comprises a .disc II1 having aplurality of circumferentially spaced pins II8 extending from one facethereof. Each pin passes through an elongated slot H9 in a feeler memberI20 maintained in vertical position by its weighted feeling end I2I.From the upper end of each member I20 there extends a member comprisingshaft I23 and roller I24 thereon for operating electric switch I35 undercircumstances hereinafter discussed.

Disc H1 is mounted upon shaft I25 whose opposite ends are respectivelyreceived by slides I26 and I21 between which the row of filled cartonsis transported by conveyor belt 2. The slide I26 is guided by bracketI28 extending upwardly from the bridge I29 which extends between theconveyor drums 3 and 25. With locking screw I30 released, the slides I26and I21 may be raised or lowered by adjustment of screw I3I so topredetermine the lowest point of the path of travel of the weighted endsI2I of the members I20. From the lower end of slide I21 extends, bar I32slidably received by bracket I33 which extends beneath belt I34 to thebridge member I29. 1

Upon the slide I21 is mounted a switch I35 which is closed to energizesolenoid 68A of the carton-feed mechanism (Fig. 3) when one of themembers I20 enters a carton which is insufliciently filled. The switchI35 which may be of any desired construction is mechanically connectedto the member I36 pivotally mounted upon 40 arm II2 and pin 5 isefiective to return latch In passing from conveyor 25A to conveyor beltslide I21 and biased by spring I31 into the path of the rollers I24.

, Assuming the cartons are in proper amount filled, each of the membersI20 as it enters a carton engages the filling to hold roller I24 suffi-'45 ciently high to prevent its engagement with member I36. When,however, a carton is insufficiently filled (carton CI3, Fig. 6), themember I20 which enters it moves downwardly beyond the usual positioncorresponding with proper amount of filling, so that roller I24 engagesmember I36 and thereby rocks it sufiiciently to effect closure of switchI35. The resulting energization of solenoid 68A, Fig. 3, interrupts thefeed of cartons from stack S to the conveyor 2.

To prevent the detector L from repeatedly stopping the feed of cartonswhen the conveyor pockets passing beneath disc II1 are empty of cartons,as at the beginning of a run for example, there is provided a secondswitch I38 electrically in series with switch I35 to preventenergization of solenoid 68A by closure of switch I35 in event suchclosure is due to absence of a carton rather than insufficient or otherimproper filling of a carton. Switch I38, in the example disclosed,comprises an arm I39 which, when engaged by a carton whose sufficiencyof filling is being checked, holds the switch contacts closed inopposition to a biasing spring I40; if no carton is present, spring I 40opens switch I38 and so renders closure of switch I35 ineffective toenergize solenoid 68A.

. For detecting over-filling or too great an amount of filling, thepositions of member I36 and member I24 are relatively reversed, so toinsufliciently filled by control of ejector mechanism E, preferablyconstructed as shown in Fig.

7. The ejector comprises two members I 4|, I42

normally to one side of the path of travel of the cartons and mounted tomove parallel to each other respectively above and below the belt 2 toengage a carton to be ejected both near its top and bottom.

Intermediate their ends, the members I4I, I42 are pivotally connected toarms I43, I44 attached to the vertically mounted shaft I45; at its endmore remote from belt 2, member I is pivotally connected to arm I46attached to shaft I41 to which is also attached a bell-crank lever I48one of whose arms is pivotally connected to ejector member I 42 and theother of whose arms is pivotally connected to a rod I49. To shaft H1 isalso attached arm I50 carrying a follower ISI for engagement with thecam I52 on shaft I53 timed to make one revolution while conveyor 2 isadvancing the cartons through a distance correspending with the distancebetween the center lines of a pair of adjacent cartons. Such timing maybe effected by suitable gearing between shaft I53 (corresponding withshaft I of our aforesaid copending applications) and the drive shaft ofconveyor drum 3.

With the parts in their positions shown in Fig. 7, the ejector membersI4I, I42 are restrained against movement by the powerful spring I54 byengagement of stop member I55, on operating rod I49, with the latchmember I56 connected by link I'I to the core or armature I58 of solenoidI59.

As thus far described, so long as latch member I56 remains in theposition shownin Fig. '7, spring I54 remains compressed and does notoperate ejector members HI, I 42. When, however, solenoid I59 isenergized by closure of switch I35, Fig. 6, in response to detection ofan insufficiently filled carton, latch I56 is moved downwardly, inopposition to biasing spring I60. out of the path of stop member I55 andis locked in its lower position by a second latching member I6I biasedto its latching position by spring I62.

The ejector members I 4|, I42, however, do not operate immediately uponenergization of solenoid I59: they remain in their retracted positionuntil the insufficiently filled carton has moved beyond the light-weightdetector and into the path of ejector members I4I, I42, whereupon thefall in cam I52 permits spring I54 abruptly to actuate members I4I, I42and so forcibly eject the improperly filled carton from conveyor 2through a gap in theside guides 54B.

At or near the end of forward movement of the ejector, the second latchmember I6I is released from engagement with latch member I56 by theadjustable stop I63, whereupon latch member I56 is moved by spring I60upwardly into engagement with the under face of extension I64 of stopmember I55 on rod I49. As rod I49 is returned to its original positionby the rise of cam I52, latch I56 slides along the under face ofextension I64 and eventually passes beyond the extension I64, whereuponspring I60 eflects further upward movement of latch I56 to positionpredetermined by stop I65.

To avoid need for solenoid I59 to overcome the large frictionalresistance otherwise existing between the latch .156 and stop I55, thecam I52 thrdughout the angle A is eflective to hold stop I 55 slightlyaway from engagement with latch I56 and it is within this angle thatswitch I35 of the light-weight detector operates, if at all, to energizesolenoid I59.

What we claim is:

1. A system for conveying and filling cartons comprising means forremoving flattened cartons from a stack thereof, an endless conveyorcooperating with said means to open the cartons.

means for filling the opened cartons during their transport by saidconveyor, and means responsive to the amount of filling in an openedcarton for interrupting operation of said carton-removing means andineffective to preclude continued operation of said conveyor.

2. A system for .conveying and filling cartons comprising means forremoving flattened cartons from a stack thereof, an endless conveyorcooperating with said means to open the cartons, means for filling theopened cartons during their transport by said conveyor, and meansresponsive to the amount of filling in an opened carton to effectinterruption of operation of the cartonremoving means during continuedoperation of said conveyor including means providing for delay of saidinterruption until completion of removal of a carton from said stack andtransfer thereof to said container.

3. A system for conveying and filling cartons comprising means forremoving flattened cartons from a stackthereof, a conveyor cooperatingwith said means to open the cartons, mechanism for filling cartons intransport by said conveyor, an ejector operable to remove cartons fromsaid conveyor, and means responsive to the amount of filling in a cartonto effect, during continued operation of said conveyor interruption ofoperation of said carton-removing means and to efiect actuation of saidejector.

4. A system for conveying and filling cartons comprising means forremoving flattened cartons from a stack thereof, a conveyor cooperatingwith said means to open the cartons, mechanism for filling cartons intransport by said conveyor, an ejector operable to remove cartons from'said conveyor disposed beyond said filling mechanism, a device disposedbetween said ejector and said filling mechanism to detect cartonfillings of undesired amounts, time-delay means controlled by saiddevice to interrupt operation of said cartonremoving means, andtime-delay means controlled by said device to effect actuation of saidejector during continued operation of said conveyor.

5. A system comprising a conveyor having recesses to receive cartons,and means for removing flattened cartons from a stack thereof andcoa'cting with said conveyor to effect opening of each carton as it isreceived by one of said recesses.

6. A system comprising a conveyor having recesses to receive cartons,means for feeding a stack of flattened cartons to position the front endof the stack adjacent said conveyor, angularly oscillating structure forengaging each carton in succession as it becomes the front carwn of thestack and for swinging it therefrom, and

structure reciprocating lengthwise of said stack to transfer the cartonsfrom said angularly oscillating structure into successive recesses ofsaid conveyor.

7. A system comprising a conveyor having abutments forming recesses toreceive cartons, means for feeding a stack of cartons to position thefront end of the stack adjacent said conveyor, structure for engagingeach carton as it in turn becomes the front carton of the stack and formoving a comer thereof into the path of one of said abutments to effectopening of the carton, and means for moving each carton, when opened,from said structure into one of said recesses.

8. A system for conveying and filling cartons comprising a conveyorhaving rigid pocket-forming members, means for removing flattenedcartons from a stack thereof, opening them and feeding them to thepockets formed by said members of said conveyor, a filling station, asecond conveyor having rigid members forming pockets for receivingcartons from said first conveyor and transporting them to said fillingstation, and means for collapsing and reversely folding the cartons asthey pass from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.

9. A system comprising a conveyor having pockets for transportingopencartons, means for removing flattened cartons from a stack thereof,opening and feeding them to said pockets of the conveyor, and means forcollapsing the cartons as they pass from said pockets of the conveyorand for thereafter reversely folding them.

10. A system for opening and conveying cartons comprising an endlessconveyor having pocketfcrming members extending therefrom, means forremoving flattened cartons individually from a stack and holding each ofthem in turn, with a folded edge in the path of movement of one of saidmembers, for -co-action with said members in openin the cartons, andmeans for transferring each opened carton from said holding means intothe pocket formed by said one of said pocketforming members and theneighboring pocketforming member.

11. A system comprising two conveyors moving in opposite directions atadjacent portions of their paths of movement, abutments extending fromeach of said conveyors to define pockets for cartons, means fordeflecting cartons from the pock. ets of one of said conveyors, andmeans for collapsing the deflected cartons and directing each in turninto an approaching pocket of the other of said conveyors.

12. A system comprising a conveyor a portion of whose path iscurvilinear, carton-clamping abutments attached to said conveyor inspaced relation along it, means for feeding cartons to bring each inturn with a folded edge thereof in position for engagement by one ofsaid abutments while moving in aforesaid curvilinear portion of saidpath, and mean for moving each of the cartons in turn from said positioninto the open pocket formed by said one of said abutments and I theneighboring abutment.

13. A system comprising a conveyor having pockets for receiving cartons,means cyclically operable to remove flattened cartons from a stackthereof and delivering them in turn to successive pockets provided onsaid conveyor including a carton-gripping member biased toward the endcarton of the stack and mechanism positively to move said member awayfrom the stack, and means for interrupting feed of cartons to theconveyor during continued operation of said conveyor comprising acontrol member operable at any time during a cycle of saidcarton-removing means, and means for delaying the feed-interrupting ef-1 fect of said control member until aforesaid cycle

